The new TV: How everything is changing

Just a decade ago, the electronic hearth seemed in danger of flickering out. Now, television is amid what many call a second "golden age." So just what are we looking at? Shows worth savoring and collecting. Time-shifting, ad-skipping and a ratings slump. Mind-reading sets. Unbundling. Read through our special section on how TV has been upended.

(Emiliano Ponzi / For The Times)

Television in a 'world of video wonders'

A scripted broadcast show — that's television. So's a cable show. But what about a smartphone recording of a cat? Los Angeles Times television critic Robert Lloyd ponders the definition of the medium in 2014.

Behold, your creation

When viewers took control of the TV model, the small screen hit the big time. Los Angeles Times television critic Mary McNamara reflects on the most important thing that didn't exist in the TV universe a decade ago: ownership.

It knows what we want before we do

Algorithms spin out suggestions for more viewing, and getting that right is big biz. Netflix says about half of all its viewing comes from recommendations; at Hulu, it's closer to 75%. Get a look at how content providers try to predict what you want to see.

Timing is still everything for networks

While offering more on-demand options, television executives say keeping shows running in the right time slots remains crucial to both viewers and networks. "It's not the same level of critical mass we've seen before. But people are still social beings seeking consensus and connection," said FX Networks' vice president of research.

'The holy grail' of metrics

TV viewing is hard to keep tabs on: so many devices, so many places, so many times. But the industry needs those numbers. "The holy grail is the ability to measure everyone across all platforms," said the head of research at NBC. "No one is doing that yet."